We love a good mystery

Especially if it is tied to a sampler! This is the frame we were asked to do for With Thy Needle & Thread's new "Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler." We think Brenda did a fabulous job (as always) pairing this particular frame with this sampler. We know lots of you are stitching it as we have already had orders. So we thank you for that!

For inquiries or ordering information, please call (602) 989-1905, where you will reach Janet, or contact us through email valleyhouseprim@aol.com.  Shop information can also be found on our Web site Valley House Primitives.  We have more shops to add to our list, but if you have trouble finding one that carries our frames, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone!

Remembering Lisa

So many touching and heartfelt sentiments have been written over the past few days about the untimely passing of Lisa Roswell of The Primitive Needle.  We cannot really add to these words so well expressed by others but to say that we are honored to have had the opportunity to frame some of her wonderful designs and blessed beyond measure to have called her our friend. The loss of Lisa has indeed left a void in the needlework industry and an even larger hole in our hearts.

May peace and comfort be with her family, all of the many friends and "sampler sisters of the thread" she leaves behind.

Prim Little Pumpkins

photo courtesy of The Garden Gate

A few years ago, Joy posted these little pumpkins on her Garden Gate blog. So many people asked for the recipe, that we thought we might share it again here.  These little pumpkins seem to last forever! While they did need a little dusting of spices this year, they look (and smell) just as good as when they were first made. So make some for yourselves and enjoy their autumn-y goodness!


Cinnamon Dough Recipe


1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup white glue, such as Elmers


Combine all ingredients in a bowl and knead until the dough is smooth and pliable.
Form into pumpkin shapes and lightly score with a toothpick to form the ridges. While the dough is still moist, place a small twig into the top center for the stem.
Dry for a few days or speed up the process by drying in a warm oven (200F).

Big, Beautiful Frame

This is just a short little post to show you this gorgeous frame, which graces a new release from  Little House Needleworks entitled "The Family Tree Sampler." It is difficult to capture perspective in this photo taken on the patio decking, but it is a large frame. The details are our moulding MCC (copyright 2007 by Valley House Primitives LLC) in Tavern Gold with a Hairpin graining design. And after you have visited Diane's Web site, hop on over to her Little House Needleworks blog ~ it's always filled with lovely things!

Please visit the Valley House Primitives Web site for a list of shops carrying our frames. If you do not see one close to you, please contact us at valleyhouseprim@aol.com.

Thanks for stopping by and as always, happy stitching!

Hornbooks

We love them! And what a perfect time of year ~ back to school ~ to show you our line of these ever-popular frames. The two you see in this photo are our very first hornbook styles. The hornbook on the right is for The Primitive Needle's  Hornbook Angel, and was actually our very first hornbook.

The hornbook on the left is one we have been making almost as long, and is very well-suited for Carriage House Sampling's two hornbook charts:  Hornbook Sampler and Hornbook Revisited.  While these charts are now out of print, the frames are still available.

Both of these hornbook frames are available in a number of sizes.

The hornbook for Plum Street Sampler's Halloween Hornbook (pictured above) is another that we just love and has been very popular. Again, this hornbook frame is available in several sizes. It is simply called Paulette's Hornbook.

And finally, here is the hornbook frame we made for With My Needle's  A Multiplication Table Examplar. Ellen knew exactly what she wanted for this wonderful sampler, and to date, this hornbook has been one of our best sellers! We are happy to announce that it is now available in a size that will accommodate the sampler as stitched on 40-count linen over two threads.

Do you have a hornbook sampler for which you need the perfect frame? Just let us know!

Busy As Bees

Time has certainly flown since our last post! We have been trying to cope with our summer heat by staying busy making frames and stitching when time allows.

And speaking of bees, have you seen the designs of Beehive Needleworks? Judy has the sweetest school girl-type samplers and lovely smalls. We have been  fortunate to have framed some of these, and we are sharing those with you in this post. Also, Judy has the most calming blog, Penelope's Beehive. It is always a source of relaxation and refreshment, so be sure to visit her there, too.

Without further ado, here are some of the lovely samplers from Beehive Needleworks:

Zenna Hartwicke

Annie Ellsworth

Zabeth Cottingill

Blue Tulip Sampler

Eliza Bromley

Hannah Wright

Don't you just love the names for these girls?

Until next time, enjoy the remaining summer days and happy stitching to all of you!

The Announcement

Like many of you, we are gnashing our teeth as a result of Kathy Barrick-Dieter's decision to retire her design business, Carriage House Samplings. Thankfully, our stashes are full of yet-to-be-stitched CHS designs.  We know we are not the only ones in this situation, because we have had a number of inquiries as to whether or not we will continue to make the hand-grained frames that seem to be a perfect fit with Kathy's reproduction and folk art sampler styles. We are happy to say that YES, we plan to stay busy for a very long time.

So if you are looking for a frame for any of your Carriage House Samplings designs (or The Goode Huswife,  Plum Street Samplers,  Heartstrings Samplery,  With My Needle or any sampler at all that is just screaming for one of our hand-grained frames), just contact your local needlework shop or a shop listed on our Web site.  As always, we are happy to assist you in your search.

And speaking of Dear Kathy, here is a photo of  her Kingdom Come, featured in our Moulding MCA, design Small Swirl over Tavern Gold.

All the best to you, Kathy! And thanks so much for sharing your enormous talent with us. Our stitching hearts and hands are forever grateful.